This Saturday’s event is a virtual wine tasting tour of France with a different varietal for every stop along the way. We keep coming back to France because the country is endowed with many growing areas and an enormous selection of varietals. Studying French wine requires much in-depth inquiry and considerable wine tasting. It is our challenge to inform and to teach appreciation of the fine wines from this country while having a good time along the way.

2009 MISSION ST. VINCENT SAUVIGNON BLANC, BORDEAUXList price 16.00; our price 13.50; today only 12.15This château-bottled white is from an estate in the Entre-Deux-Mers area just east of Bordeaux. The estate has installed modern technology to assume a better advantage in this area that produces many inexpensive whites. Typically, this grape is blended with Semillon to produce a richer and more complex wine. This bottling is a blend of 70% Sauvignon and 30% Semillon. The floral Sauvignon character marries beautifully with the later picked, weightier Semillon. The citrus flower fragrance and the soft peachy flavors are precisely what we look for in Bordeaux whites. It has a crisp, smooth and fresh finish. This wine can be enjoyed on its own or is ideal as an accompaniment to fish and chicken dishes.

2009 LOUIS JADOT MÂCON-VILLAGES, BURGUNDYList price 14.00; our price 11.99; today only 10.79Burgundy is an engrossing subject on its own, with so many producing areas from Chablis to Beaujolais. Everything in between is all about Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This is a clean, fresh Chardonnay with typical varietal fragrance and elegant, citrus and white fruit flavors on the palate. Vinified without oak contact, the delicate acid balance carries into a refreshing, crisp finish.

2008 MARQUIS DE GOULAINE VOUVRAY, LOIREList price 15.95; our price 14.99; today only 13.49Originally from France’s Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc has spread around the globe and is used for virtually all styles of white wine, from crisp and lean to rich, round full table wines, sparkling wines, and some of the most decadent dessert wines made. Classic descriptors for the flavors of Chenin Blanc include peach, honey, marzipan grapefruit, and quince, often exhibiting more tropical fruit notes that recall pineapple and guava. This one is forward and easygoing, showing delicate flavors of apple and orange peel, accented by a touch of chalky minerality and finishing with a light sweet floral fruit character.

2010 DOMAINE DE NIZAS, ROSÉ, COTEAUX DU LANGUEDOCList price 15.50; our price 13.99; today only 12.59This is a lush and lively wine with an appealing soft rose color and violet hints. Its bouquet develops intense aromas of delicate peony, raspberry, mandarin orange and violet candy notes. The palate is smooth, round and well balanced with a lingering finish. Vibrant, crisp and dry, this rosé embodies the finesse style and spirit of the Domaine. It’s a taste of Mediterranean sunshine if it were possible to distill such a thing.

2009 JOSEPH DROUHIN BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGESList price 12.00; our price 9.99; today only 8.99Beaujolais is a prosperous wine region cultivating almost 55,000 acres, more than the three departments of Burgundy combined, and produces an average of 13 million cases annually. It is comprised of 12 appellations and is divided into Haut- and Bas-Beaujolais. It is in Haut-Beaujolais that you will find the Beaujolais-Villages appellation and the 10 Beaujolais Crus. From a great year such as 2009, you should make every effort to try the major Crus which usually are priced in the 20-30 dollar range. The nose of this bottling is both refined and intense, with notes of violet, redcurrant and strawberry, combining with a floral nuance and a touch of herbs. This is a straightforward, lively wine that offers tangy red fruit flavors and a touch of bitterness to keep it interesting. It finishes soft and dry, with a slight hint of herbs.

2007 DOMAINE D’ANDEZON CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE, REDList price 14.95; our price 9.99; today only 8.99​Robert Parker rated this lovely wine 89-points: A blend of 90% Syrah (40-year old vines) and 10% Grenache (60-year old vines), the tank-fermented and aged 2007 Cotes du Rhone exhibits sweet blackberry and cassis fruit interwoven with notions of spring flowers, licorice, and road tar. It possesses a lovely texture, crisp acids (a characteristic of this vintage), medium to full body, and a long, smooth finish. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.